Blind tilting mechanism



Feb. 28, 1933. J BURNS 1,899,180

BLIND TILTING MECHANISM Filed Nov. 16, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet J Z INVENTOR. fig. fedflamg. 7 m/7% %%rmm.

ATTORNEY.

'Feb. 28, 1933. F.-J. BURNS BLIND TILTING MECHANISM 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 16, 1931 ATTQRXEY.

Patented Feb. 28, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT {OFFICE FRED J. BURNS, OF SAGINAW, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR TO THE COLUMBIA MILLS, INC OF SAGINAW, MICHIGAN, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK BLIND rrmme mnomuvrsm Application filed November 16, 1931. Serial No. 575,322.

This invention relates to tilting mechanism, and more specifically to a tilting mechanism for Venetian blinds for tilting theslats into difierent positions, and for holding said slats in their adjusted positions a ainst wind pressures and various other distur ing forces.

The prime object of the invention is to design a tilting mechanism which will be smooth and velvety in operation, and which will securely hold the slats in adjusted position.

Another object is to provide a tilting device the operating mechanism of which is entirely enclosed, and provide a slotted opening in the bottom wall of the housing, so that the operatin cord cannot become fouled regardless of t e angle of pull exerted thereon.

A further object of the invention is to provide a tilting mechanism constructed as a if unit, which is readily detachable from the tilt bar, which ,is reversible for either right or left hand operation, and which is provided with extension plates insuring correct mounting and perfect alignment with the head and tilt rails respectively.

A still further object resides in the provision of compensating means for providing a positive tension between the compensating block and the friction pulley for preventing slippage of the operating cord. A further object still is to provide a simple and practical means for securing the worm wheel on the tilt shaft, together with means on said shaft for automatically spacing the side wall of the housing from the tilt bar.

Still a further object is to provide a mechanism composed of a minimum number of parts, which can be readily manufactured and assembled, which are of rugged substantial construction, insuring long life with a minimum of repair.

With these and other objects in view, the present invention resides in the novel and improved features, construction, and combinations of parts, hereinafter fully described,

. tached to a suitable head rail 8, means for with and skilled in the art.

In the drawings-- Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a Venetian blind embodying my invention.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary end View, parts being cut away to show the interior.

Fig. 3 is an end view taken on the line 33 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary enlarged part sectional front view of the head rail, tilting mechanism, and tilt bar.

Fig. 5 is a side view of the head rail and tilting mechanism.

Fig. 6 is an inverted plan view of the tilting mechanism. v

Fig. 7 is a plan view.

Fig. 8 is a detail assembly of the friction sheave and worm.

Fig. 9 is a detail of the tilt shaft.

Fig. 10 is a detail of the worm wheel and sleeve.

Fig. 11 is an end view thereof.

1 Fig. 12 is a side view of the compensating block. I

Fig. 13 is a section taken on the line 1313 of Fig.1'2.

Referring now to the drawings, the numeral 2 indicates a window frame or opening in which the Venetian blind is hung, this blind comprising a plurality of slats 3, supported in tape ladders 4, and hung from a tilt bar 5 as usual, a pintle 6 being provided on one end of said tilt bar and is mounted in a bracket 7 in the conventional manner. The tilting mechanism proper to yvhich this invention is specifically directed supports the opposite end of the tilt bar and is in turn atraising and lowering the slats are also provided, but this forms no part of the present invention.

The tilting mechanism is entirely concealed Y from view and is mounted in a preferably metal housing 9, the bottom of whlch is rovided with an opening 10 to accommo ate the usual operating cord as shown, the edges of the opening being rounded so that it will not fray said cord. The housing is of pleasing design, being symmetrical in shape, the upper end being open as shown, and one side wall 11 extends above the body proper and is adapted (when mounted) to engage the front of the head rail, screws 12 being provided for securing it in position. A laterally projecting flange 13 is also formed integral with the back wall and engages the bottom of the head rail, similar openings being provided to accommodate the screws 14.

I wish to direct particular attention to the fact that the construction of the housing insures easy and correct mounting of the device, and in perfect alignment with the head rail and tilt bar, it can be mounted by unskilled labor, and a screw driver is the only tool necessary, as there is no fitting, the housing is further practically dust-proof, the only opening being the slot in the bottom wall which accommodates the operating cord.

The tiltin mechanism proper comprises a longitudinal y disposed tilt shaft 15, the one end having an enlarged rectangular block section 16 which is adapted to engage the tilt rail, the section 17 directly adjacent said rectangular section being turned and is adapted to be journaled in the housing side wall, a squared section 18 is provided adjacent the section 17, the balanc of the shaft bein round, the end being turned and is journaled in the opposite side wall. A sleeve member 19 is mounted on the shaft 15, and'a worm wheel 20 is cast integral therewith, one end of the sleeve opening'being squared as shown at 21 in Fig. 11, and is adapted to receive the squared section 18 of the shaft, so that the sleeve will be locked thereon and rotate therei with, the worm wheel 20 meshing with a worm 22 which is formed integral with a sleeve 23, said sleeve being mounted on a pin 24, one end of said pin being mounted in the housing side wall,'the opposite. end 25 being shouldered and projects through the o posite side wall and is headed over so that t e pin is rigidly held in position.

A friction sheave 26 is mounted on the pin 24, the hub of said sheave being formed with jaws 27 which form a clutch with the end of the sleeve 23. An operating cord 28 is trained over the sheave 26, and it will be obvious that as the sheave is actuated, that the worm will also be driven, and will in turn drive the worm wheel.

A metal clip 29 is usually provided on the end of the tilt bar, and a suitableopening 30 is provided therein and in the end of the bar proper, so that the block section 16 may be inserted therein, the lugs 31 which are provided on said section serving to space the end block is shown in Figs. 12 and 13 of the drawings and is formed with a rib member 34 lying directly over the groove in the sheave so that it engages the tilt cord, pressure being provided by means of a flat spring 35, one end of which is mounted in a seat 36 provided in the flange 13, the opposite end engaging a similar seat provided on the top of the pressure block. This spring is, of course, bowed, and as the cord wears, said spring forces the block 32 downwardly, so that a uniform pressure is provided on the tilt cord, preventing slippage and faulty operation.

The design of the housing and various parts permits the device being used for either right or left hand-operation, the arts are all large and rugged and will wear or a long period of time, and there are no set screws to become loose.

It will also be noted that there is no possibility of fouling or snagging the tilt cord, as the slot in the bottom of the housing is of limited width, and the cord cannot be fouled regardless of the angle of the pull. The end of the tilt shaft is readily removable from the t lt bar, and the device operates smoothly and velvety, the worm and worm wheel insuring the slats being held in adjusted positions.

From the foregoing description it Will be obvious that I have perfected a very simple, substantial, and practical tilting mechanism for Venetian blinds, and'the like.

What I claim is:

1. A Venetian blind tilting mechanism comprising a housing, a longitudinally disposed shaft mounted therein and provided with an extension adapted to detachably support a tilt rail, a sleeve mounted on said shaft a transversely disposed shaft, a worm wheel on said sleeve and a worm mounted on said transverse shaft, and manually actuated means for driving said shafts to actuate said t lt rail.

l 2. A Venetian blind tilting mechanism comprising a housing, a longitudinally disposed shaft journaled therein and provided saiil sheave for manually adjusting said tilt rai 3. A Venetian blind tiltin mechanism comprising a housing adapte to be connected to the bottom and front wall of a head rail, a longitudinally disposed shaft mounted on said housing and formed with an extension adapted .to detachably support a tilt rail, a sleeve removably mounted on said shaft, a worm wheel formed integral therewith, and means for driving said shaft to actuate said tilt rail.

4. A Venetian blind tilting mechanism comprising a housing adapted to be mounted on a head rail and having a closed bottom, a longitudinally disposed shaft journaled in said housing and projecting into the tilt bar, a slotted opening in the bottom of the housing. and adapted to accommodate an operating cord and means for actuating said shaft to tilt said tilt bar.

5. A Venetian blind tilting mechanism on said shaft and having a worm wheel formed integral therewith, and means for driving said worm wheel.

6. A Venetian blind tilting mechanism comprising a housing formed with bottom, side, and end walls, a longitudinally disposed tilt shaft assembly journaled therein and formed with a projecting section adapted to detachably engage and support one end of a tilt bar, a sleeve in said assembly and having a worm wheel formed integral therewith, a transversely disposed shaft, a worm mounted thereon and meshing with said worm wheel, and means for driving said tilt shaft;

7.. A blind tilting mechanism comprising a housing, a longitudinally disposed shaft mounted therein, one end being detachably andnon-rotatably mounted in a socket in the end of the blind tilt rail, a transversely disposed shaft mounted in said housing, a

reversible worm and worm wheel assembly mounted on said shafts, a sheave mounted on the transversely disposed shaft, an operating cord trained over said sheave, and

means for forcing said cord into the sheave groove.

8. A Venetian blind tilting mechanism comprising a housing adapted to be mounted on a head rail, a longitudinally disposed shaft journaled therein and projecting beyond thehousing for detachably supporting a tilt bar, a worm Wheel mounted thereon, a transversely'disposed shaft, a w m thereon and engaging said worm wheel, a sheave mounted on said worm shaft and over which a tiltnordis trained, and a spring actuated rail, a longitudinally disposed tilt shaft assembly j ournaled therein and projecting be yond the housing for detachably supporting a tilt bar, a transversely disposed shaft, a worm and worm wheel mounted on the respective shafts, an operating cord trained over said sheave, and a non-rotatable spring actuated pressure block mounted in said housing and engaging said cord for forcing it into frictional engagement with said sheave.

10. A blind tilting mechanism comprising a housing, a longitudinally disposed shaft mounted thereon and provided with an extension for detachably engaging and supporting one end of a tilt bar, a transversely disposed shaft, a sheave mounted thereon,-a Worm wheel on the longitudinal shaft and a Worm on the transverse shaft, a tilt cord trained over said sheave, a ribbed pressure block slidably mounted in the housing and engaging said cord, and resilient means for forging said block into engagement with said cor 11. A blind tilting mechanism comprising a housing, vertically disposed guides provided therein, a longitudinally disposed shaft assembly mounted in said housing and having a projecting section adapted to detachably support a tilt bar, a transversely disposed shaft, a sheave mounted thereon, a

, worm and worm wheel mounted on the respective shafts, a tilt cord trained over said sheave, and a pressure block mounted on said guides for preventing slippage of the cord on the sheave.

12. A blind tilting mechanism comprising a housing, a longitudinally disposed shaft assembly journaled therein and including tilt bar, lugs intermediate the length of said extension for spacing the tilt bar from the housing, a transversely disposed shaft, a

sheave, a worm and worm wheel mounted on the respective shafts, and a tilt cord trained over said sheave for manually actuating said ilt ar.

14. A blind tilting mechanismcomprising a housing adapted to be mounted on a head rail, a longitudinally disposed tilt shaft assembly journaled therein and extending be-' yond said housing to detachably support a tilt bar, a worm wheel on said assembly, a transversely disposed shaft, a worm mounted thereon, a sheave adjacent thereto and over which the tilt cord is trained, a pressure block slidably mounted in the housing above said sheave, and resilient means interposed between the head rail and the said block for forcing it into frictional engagement with said tilt cord. a

In testimony whereof I hereunto aflix my signature.

FRED J. BURNS. 

